An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image recording device comprising: a first tray including a first sheet support plate configured to support sheets thereon; a second tray including a second sheet support plate configured to support sheets thereon, the second tray being configured to move above the first tray and between a first position and a second position; a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet selectively from the first tray and the second tray, the sheet feeder including: a feed arm pivotable about a pivot axis passing through one end portion thereof; and a feed roller supported by the other end portion of the feed arm, the feed roller being configured to, when the second tray is at the first position, contact the first sheet support plate and configured to, when the second tray is at the second position, contact the second sheet support plate; a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder; a conveying guide configured to guide the sheet fed by the sheet feeder toward the recording unit along a first path in a first direction; and a return guide configured to guide the sheet having an image recorded thereon back toward the recording unit, the return guide including a flat plate portion which supports the one end portion of the feed arm and is configured to guide the sheet having the image recorded thereon along a second path in a second direction, wherein a downstream end portion of the flat plate portion in the second direction is disposed under and away from the first path, and wherein when the second tray is at the second position, the sheet feeder is accommodated between the flat plate portion and the second sheet support plate of the second tray which are parallel to each other.
2. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction in which the conveying guide guides the sheet fed by the sheet feeder toward the recording unit is opposite to the second direction in which the flat plate portion of the return guide guides the sheet having the image recorded thereon.
3. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the flat plate portion of the return guide and the second sheet support plate of the second tray extend horizontally.
4. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the return guide further includes an inclined portion disposed downstream of the flat plate portion in the second direction and inclined relative to the flat plate portion.
5. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the return guide is pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the feed arm.
6. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the flat plate portion of the return guide is disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder.
7. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the second tray is supported by the first tray.
8. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the second tray is configured to, when at the second position, support the return guide.
9. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the flat plate portion includes a guide surface configured to guide the sheet having the image recorded thereon in the second direction, and a contact portion formed on a surface opposite to the guide surface, a portion of the sheet feeder being configured to contact the contact portion.
10. The image recording device according to claim 9 , wherein the feed roller of the sheet feeder is configured to contact the contact portion of the flat plate portion of the return guide.
11. The image recording device according to claim 10 , wherein the contact portion of the flat plate portion includes a cleaning pad configured to clean the feed roller.
12. The image recording device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheet separator configured to separate from other sheets the sheet fed by the sheet feeder selectively from the first tray and the second tray.
13. An image recording device comprising: a first tray including a first sheet support plate configured to support sheets thereon; a second tray including a second sheet support plate configured to support sheets thereon, the second tray being configured to move above the first tray and between a first position and a second position; a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet selectively from the first tray and the second tray, the sheet feeder including: a feed arm pivotable about a pivot axis passing through one end portion thereof; and a feed roller supported by the other end portion of the feed arm, the feed roller being configured to, when the second tray is at the first position, contact the first sheet support plate and configured to, when the second tray is at the second position, contact the second sheet support plate; a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder; a conveying guide configured to guide the sheet fed by the sheet feeder toward the recording unit along a first path in a first direction; and a return guide configured to guide the sheet having an image recorded thereon back toward the recording unit, the return guide including a flat plate portion which supports the one end portion of the feed arm and is configured to guide the sheet having the image recorded thereon along a second path in a second direction, wherein a downstream end portion of the flat plate portion in the second direction is disposed away from the first path and overlaps the first path when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the second direction and the pivot axis of the feed arm, and wherein when the second tray is at the second position, the sheet feeder is accommodated between the flat plate portion and the second sheet support plate of the second tray which are parallel to each other.
14. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the first direction in which the conveying guide guides the sheet fed by the sheet feeder toward the recording unit is opposite to the second direction in which the flat plate portion of the return guide guides the sheet having the image recorded thereon.
15. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the flat plate portion of the return guide and the second sheet support plate of the second tray extend horizontally.
16. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the return guide further includes an inclined portion disposed downstream of the flat plate portion in the second direction and inclined relative to the flat plate portion.
17. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the return guide is pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the feed arm.
18. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the flat plate portion of the return guide is disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder.
19. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the second tray is supported by the first tray.
20. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the second tray is configured to, when at the second position, support the return guide.
21. The image recording device according to claim 13 , wherein the flat plate portion includes a guide surface configured to guide the sheet having the image recorded thereon in the second direction, and a contact portion formed on a surface opposite to the guide surface, a portion of the sheet feeder being configured to contact the contact portion.
22. The image recording device according to claim 13 , further comprising a sheet separator configured to separate from other sheets the sheet fed by the sheet feeder selectively from the first tray and the second tray.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 7, 2016
January 17, 2017
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